IndyCar has thrown an extra wrench in the works for the season finale in Nashville.
Following the race’s move from the street circuit that had been used since 2021 to the Nashville Superspeedway, the series has decided to add an option tire to the mix, as it does on street and road courses.
This will be the second time since the 2023 race at Worldwide Technologies Raceway that an option tire has been used on an oval, and the first since IndyCar’s hybrid era started at Mid-Ohio this season.
Teams will have six sets of the primary-compound tires and four sets of the softer alternate-compound tires with red sidewalls for the weekend. Everyone must run at least two laps during the race on each compound.
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“The goal for the alternate tire is to have significant wear and degradation to the point that team pit stop strategies could change as tires may wear before the end of a fuel stint. They are also designed for the different grip levels of the two types of tires to aid in creating more passing opportunities,” Cara Krstolic, director, Firestone’s Race Tire Engineering and Production chief engineer, said in a press release.
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The finale will be the decider for the season championship. As long as Alex Palou starts the race, it will be between him and Will Power, who is 33 points behind the standings.
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While Power’s teammate Scott McLaughlin is 50 points behind Palou and a maximum of 54 points are available to a race winner who also wins pole, leads a lap and leads the most laps, However, Palou will get five points for merely taking the checkered flag.
The IndyCar championship weekend is Sept. 14 – 15 and the Indy NXT series will also feature an option tire during its finale prior to the IndyCar Series race.